Today, I will continue to instruct Rain and the others as before.

Even if the devil is in the dark, he will not stop because he has been entrusted with the training because he has been entrusted with it.

 

"Well, and."

"Su ...... Su ......"

"You're completely asleep."

 

He cared about Rune the dark wizard as much as he did with Kira, so I'll put him to bed.

While I was thinking about this, I heard the door of the training ground open.

 

"Hmm? It's early."

 

It's earlier than usual, but is it Rain and Loa?

When I looked towards the door, I saw the two people I was expecting...... Instead, a group of people familiar from the past few days are coming in.

 

"With Reval...... His squires, huh?"

 

The training period should have been over, so why are you here again? And they're all wearing training uniforms.

As I approached them, wondering about it, Rival, who was in the lead, also noticed me.

 

"What kind of life have you been doing since this time?"

"What's wrong with you?" It's so early in the morning."

「…… I was rushed by these guys."

 

Do you mean all the squires?

When Rival tells me to glance at them in their training uniforms, they all smile back with enthusiasm.

 

"The second test is over, but we're still motivated!"

"It's only been three days, but it's like a daily routine!!"

"It's fun to move your body! yes!!"

 

You......!!

After all, it's motivating to be able to feel growth in a short period of time.

I'm impressed, and Rival is twitching my cheeks.

 

"Hey, Usato, what are you going to do with this? My squire has become a training idiot."

"Reval, I think you're here too."

"I'm not going to give it back calmly! Oh, oh I'm decent!!"

 

That's all I can say.

Seeing this, their attendants spoke again.

 

"But Mr. Rival didn't resist much."

"I felt like I couldn't help it, but I had already changed my clothes."

"That's what Rival is all about."

 

All the attendants say this, but .......

 

"Really?"

"You guys don't say anything extra! Usato's not going to grin too!!"

 

I don't think I hate it after all.

After smiling at Rival's reaction, he takes a breath and speaks out for them all to hear.

 

"So, let's start with the preparatory exercises! Then let's start training!"

"'Yes'"

"Damn ......."

 

It's good to be lively.

I couldn't help but smile at the unexpected training participants.

 

●

After the preparatory exercises, he runs lightly at the pace of the rivals.

Over the past three days, they have gotten used to it to some extent, and they have been trained to run without disrupting the line, and if they continue to have mental strength, they may be able to train with a higher intensity.

…… Well, I won't do it because if I go that far, it will interfere with the festival and I won't be able to devote my attention to the devil.

 

"Are you okay with me leaving the healing magic unleashed?"

"Hmm?"

 

While running, Rival, who runs side by side, suddenly asks such a thing.

It's okay because it uses system degradation...... You know that, so maybe these are words that genuinely care about me.

 

"No problem, this is also a good way to practice magic manipulation."

「……」

"Reval?"

 

I am suspicious of Reval, who has a troubled face.

After a few seconds of silence, he turns his gaze to me.

 

"I don't hear this kind of thing out loud very often...... I'm running now, and I can't hear the footsteps and voices of my attendants."

"Is there anything you want to ask?"

"It's you, Usato, you didn't come here for the festival."

「!」

 

Reval's eyes widen at his words.

The words "how did you know?" reached his throat, but before he could do so, Rival raised his palm to restrain him.

 

"It's only been a short time since I've learned that you're not the kind of person who takes the initiative to do things for honor or anything like that, but rather that you're doing the good of the heroes of other countries."

"Hahaha......"

"Well, I'm the one who took care of him the most...... Hah, it's pathetic."

 

In fact, when I look back on my actions since I came here, I am aware that I was a mess.

Still, I think it's amazing that he knows so much about me.

 

「…… Somehow, I think I understand why your squires accepted you as a normal hero when you became a hero."

"Huh?"

 

Strength, wisdom, and courage are not the only qualities needed for a hero.

Rival is a person who can see and understand his surroundings better than anyone else.

 

"What's that?"

"I'll keep this a secret, and if you're interested, you can ask your attendants."

"Hey, do you mean the noisy guys with big smiles on their faces......?"

 

Judging from the smiles on the faces in the back row, I guess the reason I came to mind was similar.

After glancing behind him, he sighed heavily and looked at me again.

 

"If there's anything I can do to help, just tell me."

"yes?"

I don't know if it's useful, but I don't want to be a pathetic man who doesn't repay the favor I've received."

 

We have recovered so far in the past week...... No, I nodded happily at Rival's words that he had grown.

 

"Now I can't tell you what I really came here for...... I don't want to put you in danger."

「…… Ahh

"But if the time comes, I want you to help me."

 

He nodded silently at my words.

A few days ago, he would have been easy prey for the devil, but now that he's grown, he's a trustworthy person.

He ends the conversation and tries to concentrate on running ——— again, but out of the corner of his eye, he spots a small boy, Rayne, entering through a door that slowly opens.

 

"....... Reval, I'm leaving."

"Oh."

 

Feeling a little suspicious about his appearance, I refuse to Rival and head to Rain.

 

"Good morning, Rain."

"Oh, oh, good morning......"

 

Don't you notice that I'm approaching?

Remembering what Rune had told me about the Lanzas Mr./Ms. last night, I had a bad feeling and put my hand on Rain's shoulder to perform a combination of magic sensing and magic rotation ——— healing to see if he was affected by the demon's magic.

 

"Usato Mr./Ms.?"

「…… Is there anything out of the ordinary? I'm sorry, suddenly."

 

There is no demonic magic in the body.

However, no matter how you look at it, Rain looks like something has happened.

This cheerful and polite child now wears a gloomy air and looks down as if he is in despair of something.

 

"Usato Mr./Ms. today's training ......."

"Layne, I ask bluntly, did something happen with Mr./Ms. Lanzas?"

"Oh, why would you ...... do that?"

 

Something must have happened.

Yesterday, the two of them were happily solving problems together, so it is unlikely that they would have a fight or anything like that.

If you think about it,something・・・Have you noticed?

I look around the training ground again and check my surroundings.

There is no one else but me, Rain, and Rival and his followers who are running now.

 

「……」

 

Still, it's too quiet here.

If the devil had something to do with what happened to Rain, someone else would overhear our conversation, and if the devil found out, Rain would be in danger.

 

「…… Oh, actually, ———."

"Okay! Rain!!"

"Oh, yes."

"Get on my back!"

「……。…… Yes?"

 

Show him your back and squat.

Rain, who was stiff for about ten seconds, probably didn't understand what was being said, got on my back without knowing what it meant.

 

"Today I'm going to train you to cast a healing spell on your back, I'm going to shake it up a bit, so I'll do my best not to distract you."

"Wow, I get it."

 

I carried Rain on my back and started running, and I joined the line of the rivals who had been running all the time.

 

"Oh? Are you training to run on your back again?"

"Rival, I don't want to leak my conversation with Rain to the outside world, can I ask you to shout to me?"

 

When I talk to Rival who is running alongside me, he rolls his eyes and then makes his expression serious.

 

"Is there a reason...... Okay, okay. Raise your voices with enthusiasm!!"

"'Yes!!'"

 

I'll thank them later.

With that in mind, I move to the back of the line and speak in a voice that only Rain can hear.

 

"Now you won't be heard...... You can talk to me."

"So, but Usato Mr./Ms....... Huh?"

"Something is attached to Mr./Ms. Lanzas?"

「…… Tsu!? Do you know?"

 

This reaction seems to be the right answer......

Then I can understand Rain's melancholy.

 

"What's ...... to Lanzas?"

"It's the devil who is possessing him, and he seems to be trying to sneak into this country and do something evil."

 

But you finally got your tail out.

I don't know when I got to Mr./Ms. Lanzas, but what on earth am I trying to do?

 

"I was yesterday...... If you leave the room to drink water at night———"

 

Leaving it to herself, Rain began to tell her what had happened last night.

 

"Lanzas was facing the mirror and talking to someone by himself, and it was as if he was using Lanzas' body to talk."

"You mean Mr./Ms. Lanzas was being manipulated?"

「…… Nope."

 

Was he willing to cooperate with the devil?

The price is ...... A healthy body, which does not suffer from pain?

 

「…… The devil was very angry with Mr./Ms. Usato."

"What, why?"

 

I don't think I've done anything to the devil yet.

When I was surprised by the rather naïve thing, Rain explained it to me.

 

"It seems that the devil was going to manipulate all the brave Mr./Ms. at this festival."

"Were you trying to manipulate the brave people who are the powerful people of each country into a fighting force?"

 

Maybe it was because I gathered the heroes and retinues of each country and trained them here as I pleased, and on the contrary, it was difficult for the devil to move freely, or something like that?

Then I heard Rain's story, and to my surprise, he was aiming for Rival, Mr./Ms. Aura, and even Leona Mr./Ms. in the second trial.

Come to think of it, the previous Rival was really in danger because he was mentally cornered and was an easy prey for the devil.

 

「…… Whew, devil. It's like you've been fooled by my trickery."

"Was that so......!? It's amazing......"

 

I didn't think that if I did whatever I wanted in this training ground, I would have crushed all the devil's plans.

But the result is alright, Zamami.

When we meet face to face, I'll tell you with my body that everything is calculated.

 

「…… Lanzas left me in the Mr./Ms. so that the devil could move freely...... Tsu. But I get it. Lanzas said he was trying to make a place for me so that I wouldn't be bothered when I was gone......!!"

"Rain ......"

"Lanzas didn't have the will to live, he wanted to live, he didn't want to suffer anymore, so he cooperated with the devil...... I'm frustrated that I didn't realize that......!"

 

Layne says with tears in her eyes.

But I was finally convinced.

Why did Mr./Ms. want Rain to learn healing magic techniques so much?

 

"Leave it to us."

"Usato, Mr./Ms.."

"I knew who I needed to fight against, and I knew who I needed to help. Then it's easy to do."

 

Perhaps Mr./Ms.'s life is in the hands of the devil.

Even if they are equal in contract, the devil is always the devil.

Somewhere, he must be doing something unreasonable to Mr./Ms..

 

「…… I need to see someone who knows more about the devil than I do."

 

At the point where Mr./Ms. Lanzas, who was contractually supposed to help, is cooperating with the devil, he can no longer say four or five.

I have to see Shea again——— the only one who can tear the demon away.